Well, you will not know why, until you try!!
Welcome back to FGW, today we will try to find out why morning stretching feels so good. But, for that, you need to trust me and try the stretching I’m about to share.
These stretching has various benefits, before actually doing them, let me quickly introduce you to some benefits you can have from these:
- Unlock your body-Have you ever felt in the morning that your body is locked, and you feel difficulty in movement? Well, morning stretching can help you and make you more relaxed. Just 5–10 minutes daily can give you great flexibility throughout the day.
- Ease the pain-Some people feel backache or stiffness in the morning. They find it difficult to move due to the ache. Stretching can ease your pain and can even fix the backache you got while sitting the previous day.
- Good for mental health-Regular stretching can also boost your mood and can make you happier. Some people wake up with a bad mood, but stretching can instantly make you happy. However, before this claim, I want you to try these first.
- Energize you: Stretching can give you some long-lasting energy. When you are more relaxed, you automatically feel more active
Now, let’s learn some of the stretchings that I would suggest to a complete beginner. There are tons of such stretching, but I selected some good ones just for you.
1: Seated forward fold
If the first thing you do after waking up in the morning is read blogs of FGW, then there’s good news for you. Because we will start these stretching on the bed itself.
The first stretch for today is the Forward fold. For this, you need to sit straight without folding your legs. Now, try to touch your feet with your hands. If you cannot do that, go as far as you can.
Remain in that position for 20–30 seconds and return to the initial position.
Just like the lady in the GIF, make sure you smile while doing it.
If you are not on your bed, then you can still do this fold while standing. For that, you need to stand straight and bend while trying to touch your toes. Hold for 20–30 secs and return to the original position.
Feel the stretch on your back and lower body.
2: Fingers Up-down stretch
Another stretch you can do in bed is this one. For this raise your hand in front of your chest. Then do this ->
Do this for 30 secs and then repeat for another hand.
3: Chest opener
You can do this in bed while sitting on a chair or while standing. I generally do it after a chest workout session. This is also done to relieve the tension from the back, chest, and shoulders.
You need to lock your hands behind your back and hold for 30 secs. Make sure you don’t bend your back. You just need to be very gentle and don’t pull your arms too much.
You can also use a towel (or resistance band).
4: Cross body Shoulder stretch
This stretch will target your shoulders and hands, and gives intense relaxation in your whole arms. To do this either stand or sit straight. Bring that arm across your body and hold it with another. Hold it for 20-30 secs and repeat for another arm.
5: Spinal twist
Personally speaking, this one is my favorite. I once used to have terrible backache in the mornings (due to long hours of sitting). This stretch was a great relief. I used to do this before sleeping, after waking up, and mainly after a workout.
Honestly, not all can do it, this requires some flexibility. If you think you are flexible enough, try the laying version.
For this, you need to bring your knees towards your chest (while laying on a bed or a flat surface). Now, twist your torso towards the left (or right), while doing that, your head is towards the opposite direction to your knees. See this ->
You can also do a similar stretch while sitting. This is more of beginner-friendly
Make sure to hold for 20-30 for each side.
6: Knees to the chest
You can also do knees to the chest. For this bring your knees towards your chest and hold them with your hands for 20–30 secs.
7: Neck rotation
Look there’s something to your left, or maybe something on your right. Can’t find it? Keep looking!!
For this stretch make sure, only your neck is doing the movement, not your upper body and definitely not your lower body.
There are more variations where you can turn your neck up and down and in circles.
8: Garland pose
Enough of these bed stretching. Let’s do something fun. In this, you need to stand straight and sit in a low squat position and do the namaste.
Don’t be confused, just follow this and stay in this position for 30 secs.
A few more of FGW’s favorites:
Let me share a few more of my favorites
Bhujangasana or cobra pose
Hold it for 30 secs and feel the tension going away from your back
Balasana or child pose
FGW suggests:
⇉ Be gentle and enjoy these. You need to do it very patiently. This will take some 5–10 mins, don’t rush.
⇉ Maintain posture. Don’t overdo it, make sure you are doing it properly.
⇉ Ask an expert. I am just a health blogger. I am sharing these with my own experience. But, still asking an expert is important. It’s even better to do these under an expert’s supervision.
⇉ Every pain is different. Stretching doesn’t fix every ache.
And that brings us to the end of this blog.
I invite you to try these stretching and share your experience in the comments below. Also, tell me if these stretching felt good.
You can also talk to me outside WP on Instagram and LinkedIn, but before that Remember to smile 🙂
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